Cook Without Book

Potato Cheese Chowder Potato soup enriched with cheese. Cooking Time:  10-15 minutes Servings:  4   Preparation Time:  10-15 minutes   Category:  Veg Ingredients • Potatoes peeled, quartered vertically and sliced thinly horizontally 4 medium • Processed cheese 50 grams • Butter 2 tablespoons • Celery,finely chopped 2 inch stalk • Onions,finely chopped 2 medium • Refined flour (maida) 2 tablespoons • Vegetable stock 2 cups • Salt to taste • Black peppercorns,freshly ground to taste • Warm milk 1 cup Method Heat butter in a non stick pan, add celery and mix. Add onions and saute till soft. Add refined flour and mix and saute for 1 minute or till the raw smells disappear. Take care that the colour of flour does not change. Add 1 cup vegetable stock and mix well. Add potatoes and mix. Add salt, freshly ground black peppercorns and mix. Add milk and mix well. Cover and cook on medium heat till ...

Mango Tacos Famous Mexican tacos stuffed with yogurt and served topped with tangy mango salsa. Cooking Time:  30-40 minutes Servings:  4   Preparation Time:  20-30 minutes   Category:  Veg Ingredients For tacos • Maize flour (makai ka atta) 1 cup • Refined flour (maida) 2/3 cup • Turmeric powder a pinch • Oil 1 1/2 tablespoons • Salt to taste For filling • Hung yogurt,whisked 1 cup • Salt to taste • Red cabbage,shredded 1/2 small For salsa • Ripe mangoes 2 medium • Onion ,chopped 1 small • Tomato,chopped 1 large • Red capsicum,chopped 1 small • Jalapeno,chopped 1 • Fresh coriander leaves,chopped 2 tablespoons • Lemon juice 3 tablespoons • Black peppercorns,crushed 7-8 Method Mix all the ingredients for the tacos, add sufficient water and knead into semi soft dough. Keep it covered for about fifteen minutes. Divide into twelve equal portions and roll them into...

Papad Paneer Pops Spicy cottage cheese balls dipped in refined flour batter, rolled in crushed papad and deep fried. Cooking Time:  25-30 minutes Servings:  4   Preparation Time:  15-20 minutes   Category:  Veg Ingredients • Crushed raw papad 1 1/2 cups • Paneer (cottage cheese),grated 1 cup • Chaat masala 1 teaspoon • Red chilli powder 1/2 teaspoon • Salt to taste • Fresh coriander leaves,chopped 1 tablespoon • Fresh mint leaves,chopped 1 tablespoon • Refined flour (maida) 5 tablespoons • Oil to deep fry Method Put cottage cheese, chaat masala, red chilli powder, salt, coriander leaves and mint leaves in a bowl and mix well. Divide this mixture into equal portions and shape them into small balls. Whisk together refined flour, salt and eight tablespoons of water in another bowl to make a smooth paste. Spread the crushed papad on a plate. Dip the cottage cheese balls in the flour paste and roll...

      Apple Fantasy Classic apple crumble. Cooking Time:  10-15 minutes Servings:  4   Preparation Time:  10-15 minutes   Category:  Veg Ingredients • Apple,peeled, cored and sliced 4-6 medium • Butter,softened 1/2 cup • Refined flour (maida) 1 cup • Brown sugar 1 cup Method Preheat oven to 180°C. Grease a baking dish with butter. Combine butter, flour and sugar in a bowl. Rub well until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Arrange apple slices in the greased baking dish and sprinkle the flour mixture on them. Place the dish in the preheated oven and bake for twenty-five to thirty minutes or until golden. Remove from oven and cool to room temperature and serve.

Palak Aur Matar Ki Kachori Palak dough stuffed with green pea mixture, shaped into kachoris and deep fried. Cooking Time:  15-20 minutes Servings:  4   Preparation Time:  15-20 minutes   Category:  Veg Ingredients • Spinach puree 3 tablespoons • Green peas 1 cup • Refined flour (maida) 1 1/2 cups • Ghee 1 1/2 tablespoons • Carom seeds (ajwain) 1/4 teaspoon • Salt to taste • Oil 2 tablespons + for deep-frying • Asafoetida a pinch • Ginger,finely chopped 2 inch piece • Green chillies,finely chopped 2 • Fennel seeds (saunf) 1 teaspoon • Fresh mint leaves,finely chopped 2 tablespoons Method Knead maida, ghee, ajwain, palak purée and salt with sufficient water into a dough. Heat 2 tbsps oil in a non stick pan, add asafoetida, ginger, green chillies and fennel seeds and sauté.Add peas, salt and mint leaves. Mix well, cool and grind to a coarse mixture. Transfer into a bowl. Divide the dough...

Sweet Corn Crunch Cake A crunchy cake made with sweet corn. Cooking Time:  15-20 minutes Servings:  4   Preparation Time:  10-15 minutes   Category:  Veg    Ingredients • Sweet corn kernels 1 1/2 cups • Refined flour (maida) 60 grams • Cornflour/ corn starch 60 grams • Baking powder 1 teaspoon • Baking soda 1 teaspoon • Butter 1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon • Condensed milk 2 tablespoons • Buttermilk 1/4 cup • Corn flakes,crushed 1/2 cup • Almonds,sliced 2 tablespoons • Sugar 1 tablespoon • Cherries as required Method Preheat oven to 170°C. Drain the water from the corn kernels and grind to a puree. Sieve refined flour, corn flour, baking soda and baking powder into a bowl. Mix 1 tbsp butter and condensed milk in anotherbowl, add the corn puree, flour mixture and continue to mix to make a batter. Add buttermilk to adjust the consistency. Grease a baking mould with butter. Pour t...

White Fantasy Nothing could be more fantastic. Cooking Time:  15-20 minutes Servings:  4   Preparation Time:  10-15 minutes   Category:  Veg Ingredients • Potatoes,boiled and mashed 2 cups • Fresh bread crumbs 6 tablespoons • Cornflour/ corn starch 2 tablespoons + 1/2 cup • Chaat masala 1 1/2 tablespoons + to sprinkle • Green chillies,finely chopped 2 teaspoons • Black pepper powder 2 1/2 teaspoons • Salt to taste • Paneer (cottage cheese),crumbled 1 1/2 cups • Green peas,boiled 2 tablespoons • Red capsicum,chopped 1 1/2 tablespoons • Green capsicum,chopped 1 1/2 tablespoons • Carrots,parboiled chopped 3 tablespoons • Oil to deep fry • Olive oil for greasing • Refined flour (maida) 1/4 cup • Sago (sabudana),soaked 2 cups Method For outer covering place mashed potatoes in a glass bowl. Add fresh breadcrumbs, cornflour, 1½ tbsps chaat masala, 1 tsp finely chopped gr...

   Hush Puppies       Deep fried delicacy . Cooking Time:  15-20 minutes Servings:  4   Preparation Time:  15-20 minutes   Category:  Non Veg Ingredients • Cornmeal 1 cup • Refined flour (maida) 1 cup • Baking powder 1 teaspoon • Sugar 1 tablespoon • Sea salt 1 tablespoon • Egg 1 • Milk 1/2 cup • Onion ,grated 3/4 cup • Oil to deep fry Method Mix cornmeal, refined flour, baking powder, sugar and sea salt in a bowl.Break egg in another bowl, add milk and whisk well. Add onion and egg mixture to the flour mixture and knead. If the mixture is too dry, add a little more milk and knead. Heat sufficient oil in a kadai. Divide the mixture into equal medium sized portions and shape each of them into an oblong. Gently slide them into the hot oil and deep-fry till golden. Drain on absorbent paper. Serve hot.

Mexican Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Frosting Eggless chocolate cakes with frosting can be as wonderful. Cooking Time:  25-30 minutes Servings:  4   Preparation Time:  25-30 minutes   Category:  Veg - Ingredients • Refined flour (maida) 1 cup • Cornflour/ corn starch 1/4 cup • Baking soda 1 teaspoon • Salt 1/2 teaspoon • Cinnamon powder 1 teaspoon • Cocoa powder 3 tablespoons • Castor sugar (caster sugar) 1 cup • Vanilla essence 1 teaspoon • Vinegar 1 tablespoon For frosting • Icing sugar 1 cup • Cinnamon powder 1 teaspoon • Honey 1 tablespoon • Cocoa powder 2 tablespoons • Oil 1 tablespoon Method Preheat oven to 180° C. Grease a square cake tin and lightly dust with dry flour. Place a sieve over a bowl and put refined flour, cornstarch, baking soda, salt, cinnamon powder, cocoa powder and sift. Mix well. Add castor sugar and mix. Add 1 cup chilled water and mix. A...

                                 Kala Jamun Black is beautiful as you will see when you fry regular gulab jamun till they turn a fierce black, but lose none of their sumptuous charm! Cooking Time:  30-40 minutes Servings:  4   Preparation Time:  20-30 minutes   Category:  Veg Ingredients • Hariyali khoya/mawa 3/4 cup • Paneer (cottage cheese) 1/2 cup • Refined flour (maida) 3 1/2 tablespoons • Cornflour/ corn starch 3 1/2 tablespoons • Sugar 1 1/2 cups • Milk 1 tablespoon • Green cardamom powder 1/4 teaspoon • Ghee to deep fry • Silver warq as required Method Grate the khoya and cottage cheese separately and mix. Add the refined flour and cornflour, and knead well till smooth. Divide into twenty-five equal portions. Take each portion in your palm, press and roll into a smooth ball. Ensure there are no crac...